2014 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 1, 2026 · 196 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 196 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2014 Ford Explorer, 12% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 38,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “exhaust fumes” (19% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Exhaust fumes: mentioned in 37 of 196 complaints (19%)
  • Water pump: mentioned in 23 of 196 complaints (12%)
  • Carbon monoxide: mentioned in 15 of 196 complaints (8%)
  • Rotten egg: mentioned in 10 of 196 complaints (5%)

How much does it cost to fix?

Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2014 Ford Explorer at $2,500, and half of them between $1,500 and $4,000.

Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2019–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.

At what mileage do engine problems happen?

Based on 140 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles34 · 24%
10k–25k miles12 · 9%
25k–50k miles40 · 29%
50k–75k miles23 · 16%
75k–100k miles13 · 9%
100k–150k miles14 · 10%
150k+ miles4 · 3%

How serious are the reports?

Of 196 complaints, 4 an injury.

Ford Explorer engine complaints by model year

Peak: 2016, with 382 complaints
1995: 219951996: 21997: 41998: 619981999: 42000: 92001: 620012002: 492003: 222004: 4420042005: 172006: 582007: 2820072008: 212009: 42010: 1420102011: 832012: 792013: 22520132014: 1962015: 2262016: 38220163822017: 2412018: 962019: 1920192020: 1162021: 492022: 3020222023: 102024: 12025: 820252026: 6

n = 2,057 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearEngine complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2026 Explorer614%—
2025 Explorer88%9,000
2024 Explorer15%—
2023 Explorer109%8,664
2022 Explorer3011%61,500
2021 Explorer4911%69,000
2020 Explorer1169%8,000
2019 Explorer196%22,500
2018 Explorer9613%30,000
2017 Explorer24114%23,350
2016 Explorer38216%16,650
2015 Explorer22613%30,156
2014 Explorer19612%38,500
2013 Explorer22510%56,000
2012 Explorer7910%53,000
2011 Explorer837%83,000
2010 Explorer1412%80,500
2009 Explorer412%73,842
2008 Explorer2114%85,500
2007 Explorer2813%82,000
2006 Explorer589%81,850
2005 Explorer173%115,000
2004 Explorer443%114,500
2003 Explorer222%145,500
2002 Explorer491%134,000
2001 Explorer62%98,250
2000 Explorer91%153,000
1999 Explorer40%104,300
1998 Explorer60%171,000
1997 Explorer40%147,000
1996 Explorer20%77,000
1995 Explorer20%130,000

When owners reported it

Peak: 2017, with 63 complaints
2013: 2201322014: 192014192015: 5201552016: 202016202017: 632017632018: 162018162019: 192019192020: 4202042021: 9202192022: 9202292023: 142023142024: 102024102025: 5202552026: 120261

n = 196 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (0)

No safety recall lists engine for the 2014 Ford Explorer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

When I'm driving on the freeway. I could be on flatland and it will stall, I could be going down a hill and it stalls, I could be on a regular road, turning a corner, hitting a bump. And it stalls when I'm on the freeway, I have to get over very scary happens all the time when It happens I coast, I…

Received Mar 11, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11723535

Engine over heat warning while driving and I checked there is a coolant leakage.

Received Nov 6, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11697807

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to…

Received Oct 24, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11695502
Ford Explorer
A 2025 Ford Explorer Active (facelift) photographed in Fresh Meadows, Queens , New York, USA.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2014 Ford Explorers have engine problems?

No. NHTSA has 196 owner complaints about engine for the 2014 Ford Explorer (12% of the 1,679 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2014 Ford Explorer engine?

No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.

At what mileage do engine problems start?

The median reported mileage is 38,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2014 Ford Explorer?

Owners report a typical cost of $2,500 (half paid between $1,500 and $4,000), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.

What do owners say about engine problems on the 2014 Ford Explorer?

The most frequent phrase is “exhaust fumes”, in 37 of 196 complaints, followed by “water pump” (23).

Other 2014 Ford Explorer problems

See all 2014 Ford Explorer problems or engine problems across all Explorer years.